As If / As Though

C1 · AdvancedWishes & Hypotheticals

She talks as if she knew everything. A comparison that isn't real.

What you'll learn

As if / as though + past simple compares to an unreal or imagined present situation
As if / as though + past perfect compares to an unreal or imagined earlier situation
As if / as though + present tense is possible when the comparison might actually be true
'As if' and 'as though' are interchangeable in meaning — 'as though' is slightly more formal

Comparing to something unreal

'As if' and 'as though' introduce a comparison — but often it's a comparison to something that isn't actually true, just how a situation appears or feels. When the comparison is unreal, the verb shifts one step back into the past, the same unreal-past pattern used after 'wish' and in the second conditional.

"She talks as if she knew everything."

"He looked as if he had seen a ghost."

Unreal present: as if / as though + past simple

To compare to an imagined situation happening right now — one that isn't actually true — use past simple after 'as if' or 'as though.'

"She talks as if she knew everything."

"He treats me as if I were a stranger."

Unreal past: as if / as though + past perfect

To compare to an imagined situation that would have happened earlier, use past perfect — one step further back, just like third-conditional and past-regret patterns.

"He looked as if he had seen a ghost."

"She spoke as though she had rehearsed it."

When the comparison might be true

If the comparison could genuinely be true — not just an appearance — English allows a present or present-perfect verb instead of the unreal past shift.

"It looks as though it's going to rain. (a real possibility)"

"You look as if you've seen a ghost. (maybe you really have)"

Real English

"She acted as if nothing had happened."

"He acts as if he owns the place."

"They looked at me as if I had said something crazy."

"It smells as though something's burning."

Watch out

✗She talks as if she knows everything.

✓She talks as if she knew everything.

For an unreal comparison about now, shift the verb one step into the past — present tense here suggests it might genuinely be true.

✗He looked as if he saw a ghost.

✓He looked as if he had seen a ghost.

An unreal comparison to an earlier moment needs past perfect, not simple past.

✗He treats me as if I was a stranger.

✓He treats me as if I were a stranger.

In careful English, 'were' is used for I/he/she/it after 'as if,' the same convention as after 'wish' and in the second conditional.

Real life — Describing someone's attitude

"How was the meeting with the new manager?"

"Strange. He talked as if he already knew everyone, but it was his first day."

"Maybe he did his research beforehand."

"Maybe. Still, he acted as if he had worked here for years."

Practice

Exercise 1 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence (unreal present comparison).

Exercise 2 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence (unreal past comparison).

Exercise 3 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 4 · Choose the unreal comparison

Which comparison is unreal — the speaker doesn't actually know the answer?

Exercise 5 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 6 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 7 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence (unreal past).

Exercise 8 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence (unreal present).

Exercise 9 · Combine using 'as if'

Combine with 'as if' (unreal present): 'He walks. He is in charge, but he isn't.'

Exercise 10 · Combine using 'as though'

Combine with 'as though' (unreal past): 'She looked tired. She had run a marathon, but she hadn't.'

Exercise 11 · Sort into groups

She talks as if she knew everything.

He treats me as if I were a stranger.

He looked as if he had seen a ghost.

She spoke as though she had rehearsed it.

0 / 4 sorted

Quick challenge

Five quick questions to check what stuck.

Question 1 / 5

Score: 0/0

Choose the correct sentence.

You learned

As if / as though + past simple compares to an unreal present situation.
As if / as though + past perfect compares to an unreal earlier situation.
A present-tense verb after as if / as though is possible when the comparison might really be true.
'As if' and 'as though' mean the same thing — 'as though' is slightly more formal.

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